Projects

As they grow up, what helps young people to establish livelihood, social connectedness and meaning? This longitudinal research follows 32 rural young people 'making a life', who have been interviewed every two years as they negotiated out of high school and into other lives. Starting in 1995 as a PhD project through the University of Tasmania, the study spans ten years, and the young people are now 20+. This work highlights the significance of trust relationships in the way that resources and options become available to young people (or not). It also highlights the role of 'storying' both in the ways that young people creatively construct lives, and also as a research tool.

For more information email:  wierenga@unimelb.edu.au

or see:

Wierenga, Ani (1999) 'Imagined trajectories:  local culture and social identity' 189-199 in White, Rob, (ed.) Australian youth subcultures:  on the margins and in the mainstream  Hobart: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies. 

Wierenga, Ani (2001) 'Making a life' PhD thesis, School of Sociology and Social Work  Hobart: University of Tasmania.

Wierenga, Ani (2002) 'Finding and losing the plot:  storying and the value of listening to young people' Scottish Journal of Youth Issues(4) 9-30.